"Songwriters Harmony -- The Benefits Of Collaboration"
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Music Publishers |
In creative relationships as in business, forging partnerships can be immensely productive. The reason? Because the resulting product is often much better than if either party had produced it alone.
So why collaborate? Just as in corporate joint ventures and non-profit partnerships, a creative collaboration, when accomplished well, allows both parties to realize benefits that may not have been possible separately.
One of the most valuable aspects of collaboration with another songwriter is the shared inspiration and energy produced. While you undoubtedly have specific ideas, skills and techniques characteristic to your songwriting, a collaborative partner brings a host of new, fresh ideas and additional strengths and skills to bear. The result is the sum of the body of work produced is much greater than either of the individual parts.
Another benefit of collaboration comes in the form of accountability. There are times when as a songwriter, your creative "juices" become stale or routine. At times, you lose some of the drive to press on and move yourself forward through creative difficulty and frustration. Having a partner helps counteract such behavior. When a partner is working based on a specific schedule, plan of action and developmental goal on which you have both agreed, then you're obligated to hold up your end of the partnership by doing likewise.
A third collaborative advantage is the opportunity to broaden your audience. If you have experienced even limited success with songwriting, you have at least begun to build an audience, and your collaborative partner has done the same. By working together, you each are given an opportunity to gain new fans of your work. It like cross-pollination. Everybody wins.
And even if you've not yet built a following, a partnership offers you the opportunity to delve into a creative style apart from that for which you are known. The possible result is that artists, record companies and others may consider you for projects they might not otherwise have envisioned you being part of. The first time Ray Charles performed a country music song, I would imagine that many thought his success highly unlikely. But, he took a risk and the rest is of course history.
Collaboration is almost always a win-win proposition for songwriting artists when accomplished following careful thought and consideration. If you're considering a collaborative partnership, choose wisely, be willing to contribute as much or more to the relationship as you receive, and plan for and expect the best from the outcome.
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Brian Cook is a freelance writer whose articles on music and songwriting have appeared on many websites.
You can find more of these at SongwritersGuide.com.
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